Automated banking machine that outputs interference signals that jam reading ability of unauthorized card readers

• US 8,317,092 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laskowski, Edward L., Blackson, Dale H., Enright, Jeffery M., Ramachandran, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/479,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20120234913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

A cash dispensing automated banking machine includes a card reader associated with a card slot. An anti-fraud sensing device is able to sense ambient light or generated radiation that passes to the sensing device through the card reader slot. The installation of an unauthorized card reading device on the machine changes at least one property sensed by the sensing device. A controller in the machine receives signals from the sensing device, and determines if an unauthorized card reading device has been installed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one computer to obtain from an area adjacent to a card slot to a card reader through operation of at least one sensor associated with a cash dispensing automated banking machine that includes the card reader, at least one reading of a level of an electromagnetic field property;

(b) operating the at least one computer in determining whether the at least one reading obtained in (a) indicates that an unauthorized card reading device is present adjacent the card slot; and

(c) responsive at least in part to a positive determination in (b), operating the at least one computer to cause at least one message suggestive that an unauthorized card reading device is present adjacent the card slot, to be sent to at least one remote computer that is located remotely from the machine.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine is part of a banking system including a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein each automated banking machine includes a card reader, a biometric reader, and a cash dispenser, and further comprising:

(d) operating the card reader of the automated banking machine to read card data from a user card;

(e) operating the biometric reader of the automated banking machine to read user biometric data;

(f) authorizing a user to use the automated banking machine to carry out a cash dispensing transaction involving a cash dispenser, responsive at least in part to both

computer-determined correspondence between the card data read in step (d) and stored card information, and

computer-determined correspondence between user biometric data read in step (e) and stored biometric information.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one signal emitter;

wherein the at least one signal emitter is operative to output interference signals configured to interfere with user card reading by an unauthorized card reading device, and further comprising;

(d) operating the at least one computer to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in the card slot; and

(e) responsive at least in part to the determination in (d), operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one signal emitter to begin output of at least one interference signal.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor, and further comprising

(f) operating the at least one proximity sensor to detect a customer adjacent the machine;

wherein the determination in (d) is based at least in part on the detection in (f).

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) includes operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one sensor to begin a predetermined period of sensing, and further comprising

(d) subsequent to step (a), operating the at least one computer to cause the at least one sensor to cease sensing;

wherein (d) is responsive at least in part to expiration of the predetermined period.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one inductance sensor,

wherein (a) includes obtaining through operation of the at least one inductance sensor, at least one reading of an inductance level of material located adjacent to the card slot.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein (b) includes determining a change in at least one inductance level reading, wherein the change indicates that additional material has been placed adjacent the card slot.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein (a) includes obtaining at least one first inductance level reading, and further comprising:

(d) subsequent to step (a), operating the at least one computer to obtain through operation of the at least one inductance sensor, at least one second inductance level reading of material adjacent the card slot;

wherein (b) includes comparing the at least one first inductance level reading and the at least one second inductance level reading to determine whether there is a difference which indicates the presence of an added unauthorized card reading device adjacent the card slot.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein step (b) includes comparing the at least one inductance level reading obtained in (a) and inductance level data stored in at least one data store, to determine whether there is a difference which indicates the presence of an added unauthorized card reading device adjacent the card slot.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor, and further comprising

(d) operating the at least one proximity sensor to detect a customer adjacent the machine;

and

(e) operating the at least one computer to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in the card slot based at least in part on the detection in (d);

wherein (a) is performed responsive at least in part to the determination in (e).

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one capacitance sensor,

wherein (a) includes obtaining through operation of the at least one capacitance sensor, at least one reading of a capacitance level of material located adjacent to the card slot.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein (b) includes determining a change in at least one capacitance level reading, wherein the change indicates that additional material has been placed adjacent the card slot.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein (a) includes obtaining at least one first capacitance level reading, and further comprising:

(d) subsequent to step (a), operating the at least one computer to obtain through operation of the at least one capacitance sensor, at least one second capacitance level reading of material adjacent the card slot;

wherein (b) includes comparing the at least one first capacitance level reading and the at least one second capacitance level reading to determine whether there is a difference which indicates the presence of an added unauthorized card reading device adjacent the card slot.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein step (b) includes comparing the at least one capacitance level reading obtained in (a) and capacitance level data stored in at least one data store, to determine whether there is a difference which indicates the presence of an added unauthorized card reading device adjacent the card slot.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor, and further comprising

(d) operating the at least one proximity sensor to detect a customer adjacent the machine;

(e) operating the at least one computer to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in the card slot based at least in part on the detection in (d);

wherein (a) is performed responsive at least in part to the determination in (e).

16. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one sensor of an automated banking machine in measuring at least one level of an electromagnetic field property in an area adjacent a path to a user data reader of the machine;

(b) operating at least one processor in determining whether the at least one level of the electromagnetic field property measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized data reader adjacent the path; and

(c) further comprising either

(ci) responsive to a negative determination in (b), causing operation the user data reader to read user data usable to identify a financial account on which financial transactions can be carried out with the machine;

or

(cii) responsive to a positive determination in (b), sending at least one message indicative of the presence of an unauthorized data reader at the machine, to at least one computer that is remotely located from the machine.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic field property comprises inductance, wherein the user data reader comprises a card reader,

wherein (a) includes measuring at least one inductance level of material in an area adjacent the path, and

wherein (b) includes determining whether the at least one inductance level measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized card reader.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor, and further comprising

(d) operating the at least one proximity sensor to detect a customer adjacent the machine;

and

(e) operating the at least one processor to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in the path based at least in part on the detection in (d);

wherein (a) is performed responsive at least in part to the determination in (e).

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic field property comprises capacitance, wherein the user data reader comprises a card reader,

wherein (a) includes measuring at least one capacitance level of material in an area adjacent the path, and

wherein (b) includes determining whether the at least one capacitance level measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized card reader.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one proximity sensor, and further comprising

(d) operating the at least one proximity sensor to detect a customer adjacent the machine;

and

(e) operating the at least one processor to determine that a user card is expected to be moved in the path based at least in part on the detection in (d);

wherein (a) is performed responsive at least in part to the determination in (e).

21. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one sensor of an automated banking machine in measuring at least one level of an electromagnetic field property in an area adjacent a path to a user data reader of the machine;

(b) operating at least one processor in determining whether the at least one level of the electromagnetic field property measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized data reader adjacent the path; and

(c) further comprising either;

(ci) responsive to a negative determination in (b), allowing operation the user data reader to read user data usable to identify a financial account on which financial transactions can be carried out with the machine;

or

(cii) responsive to a positive determination in (b), sending at least one message indicative of the presence of an unauthorized data reader at the machine, to at least one computer that is remotely located from the machine.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic field property comprises inductance, wherein the user data reader comprises a card reader, wherein the path includes a card slot to the card reader,

wherein (a) includes measuring at least one inductance level of material in an area adjacent the card slot, and

wherein (b) includes determining whether the at least one inductance level measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized card reader.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic field property comprises capacitance, wherein the user data reader comprises a card reader, wherein the path includes a card slot to the card reader,

wherein (a) includes measuring at least one capacitance level of material in an area adjacent the card slot, and

wherein (b) includes determining whether the at least one capacitance level measured in (a) indicates a presence of an unauthorized card reader.